View full sizeUniversity of Portland students had some fun on move-in day last month. The private Catholic North Portland school was named a "Best Value" university in the West.Molly J. Smith / The Oregonian

U.S. News' much-maligned and yet much-watched college rankings are out today, and while no Oregon college cracked the national Top 25 for overall excellence, some drew milder accolades.

U.S. News' system of rating universities has been criticized by a variety of critics, most recently President Barack Obama, who say it is too heavily based on inputs and spending, not on results. Still, universities that get great rankings, or even sem-great ones, are often quick to tout them.